Campaign calendar

Coming soon—one-stop early voting! Besides voting early, you can register or change your registration on the spot (bring ID). The Buncombe County Board of Elections has announced 15 satellite locations; early voting starts Thursday, Oct. 16, and ends Saturday, Nov. 1 (call 250-4200).

To help a close relative who’s housebound or out of town, e-mail: absenteeballot.request@buncombecounty.org. According to the Web site, you must be “the voter’s spouse, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepparent, stepchild or verifiable legal guardian.”

To request your own absentee ballot, write to: Rachel Brown, Board of Elections, P.O. Box 7468, Asheville NC 28802. Include your name, address, phone number, date of birth and the address where the ballot should be sent, if different from your residential address. You must sign the written request.

Requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28. Completed ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, and must arrive by mail or be hand-delivered by the voter or a near relative (as defined above).Wednesday, Oct. 1: Young Republicans meeting at Buncombe GOP Headquarters, 46 Haywood Road, Asheville, Suite 222, 7 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 2: The Buncombe County Republican Women host Laura McCue for Fair Tax Talk at the Corner Stone Restaurant, 102 Tunnel Road in Asheville, 5:30 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 2: Dinner with Buncombe County commissioner candidate Don Yelton, followed by a VP Debate Party at the Carolina Stompers’ headquarters, 128 Newfound Road, Asheville; for information and reservations call 683-9587 or 216-8107.Saturday, Oct. 4: The Buncombe County Democratic Women host gubernatorial candidate Bev Perdue and U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan, speaking at a 9 a.m. breakfast (doors open at 8:30) at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. For ticket information and reservations, call 253-4921 or e-mail elana121861@yahoo.com.Saturday, Oct. 4: Mamas for Obama Picnic at Lake Louise Park and Playground, North Merrimon Avenue in Weaverville, 4 to 7 p.m. For information, call 333-1115.Saturday, Oct. 4: The North Carolina Democratic Party’s Vance-Aycock 2008 Reception and Dinner at the Grove Park Inn. VIP reception 5:30 p.m.; dinner 7 p.m. For ticket information, contact Democratic headquarters, 274-4482.Monday, Oct. 6: The Wilshire Park Community Club hosts the candidates for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners chairman at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 51 Wilburn Place in Asheville. Potluck dinner 6:30 p.m.; candidates will speak and take questions starting at 6:45 p.m.Tuesday, Oct. 7: Tim Moffitt, Republican candidate for N.C. House District 116, hosts a presidential debate-watching party at 9 p.m.; phone-banking for all local candidates 6 to 9 p.m. (dinner provided); 3182 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville.Friday, Oct. 10: Deadline for registration and address changes to vote Nov. 4. (One-stop early voters can register and vote at the same time between Oct. 16 and Nov. 1.) Those who’ll be 18 on or before Nov. 4 are eligible to vote.Tuesday, Oct. 14: Meet-and-greet with Board of Commissioners chairman candidate David Gantt, Chiles House in Kenilworth, 6 to 8 p.m. Call 442-9252.Saturday, Oct. 11: Owen High School breakfast with Democratic candidates for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, 8 to 10 a.m. Call 274-4482.Saturday, Oct. 18: Meet-and-greet with Democratic candidates for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners over breakfast, Reynolds High School, 8 to 10 a.m.; 274-4482.Monday, Oct. 20: Candidate forum for the Buncombe commissioners and board chair, sponsored by the Asheville-Buncombe League of Women Voters, 7 p.m., Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville.Monday, Oct. 27: Candidate forum for N.C. Senate District 49 and House Districts 114, 115 and 116, sponsored by the Asheville-Buncombe League of Women Voters, 7 p.m., Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave., Asheville.

For election information, call your county board of elections (in Buncombe, 250-4200). Send calendar listings of events open to the public in writing to nholder@mountainx.com, or P.O. Box 144, Asheville NC 28802.

About Nelda Holder

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